Doctrine and Covenants Times at a Glance, Chart 2: Sections 65–137

Doctrine and Covenants Times at a Glance, Chart 2:

Left: Illustrated by Robert T. Barrett; top (from left): Photograph of Book of Commandments by Eldon K. Linschoten; Joseph Smith in Newel K. Whitney Store, by Paul Mann, may not be copied; The Prophet Joseph Attacked by a Mob, by Sam Lawlor, may not be copied; detail from Building the Kirtland Temple, by Walter Rane; Saints Driven from Jackson County, Missouri, and Zion’s Camp, by C. C. A. Christensen, courtesy of Brigham Young University Museum of Art, may not be copied; bottom: engravings of Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde by Frederick Hawkins Piercy

Top (from left): Council Meeting in Nauvoo Temple, by Dale Kilbourn; Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum, by Gary E. Smith; The Saints Crossing the Mississippi, by Grant Romney Clawson; Nauvoo Temple, by James Porter; bottom: detail from Joseph Smith in Newel K. Whitney Store, by Paul Mann, may not be copied

Nov. 1831

Preparations were made to publish the revelations received by the Prophet and title them the Book of Commandments.

A mob killed the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum in Carthage, Illinois.

Aug. 8, 1844

Church members sustained the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as the governing body of the Church, with Brigham Young as President of the Quorum of the Twelve.

Sept. 1845

Antagonism against the Saints was renewed in Illinois.

Dec. 10, 1845

Temple endowments began in the dedicated parts of the Nauvoo Temple.

Winter 1845–46

In fulfillment of the Prophet Joseph’s prophecy, the Saints made plans for a move to the Rocky Mountains.

Feb. 1846

The first groups of Saints left Nauvoo for the West.

May 1846

The Nauvoo Temple was publicly dedicated.

June 1846

The first pioneer company arrived at the Missouri River.

See Doctrine and Covenants section headings for historical background and History of the Church references.

Section number (see also circled numbers above), date the section was given, and situation that brought forth the revelation:

65. Oct. 1831 This section—designated by Joseph Smith as a prayer—was given during the period the Prophet was preparing to recommence translation of the Bible.

66. Oct. 25, 1831 William E. McLellin, a recent convert, asked the Lord to reveal His will for him.

67. Nov. 1831 At the conferences regarding the publication of the revelations that had been given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, some of the brethren felt that the language in the revelations was inferior. The Lord’s response was given through the Prophet.

69. Nov. 1831 Oliver Cowdery had been appointed to carry the manuscripts for the Book of Commandments and some Church funds to Independence, Missouri. Because the wilderness was often hazardous, John Whitmer was called as a traveling companion.

70. Nov. 12, 1831 At the conclusion of the conferences, the Lord gave stewardship of all official Church literature and its publication to the Prophet Joseph, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, William W. Phelps, John Whitmer, and Martin Harris.

71. Dec. 1, 1831 Ezra Booth had apostatized and wrote nine slanderous letters printed in the Ohio Star. The Prophet Joseph and Sidney Rigdon were commanded to go forth and preach to allay resulting unfriendly feelings against the Church.

72. Dec. 4, 1831 Several elders and members assembled to learn their duty and be taught.

73. Jan. 10, 1832 The elders of the Church desired to know what they should do while waiting for the next conference, to be held in Amherst, Ohio, on January 25, 1832.

74. Jan. 1832 This revelation was received during the translation of the Bible as an explanation of 1 Corinthians 7:14 [1 Cor. 7:14].

75. Jan. 25, 1832 At the conference in Amherst, the elders were eager to know how they were to bring people to a knowledge of their condition. Several missionaries were called to serve, mostly in the eastern United States.

76. Feb. 16, 1832 The Prophet Joseph and Sidney Rigdon were translating the Bible. When they came to John 5:29, the heavens were opened and they received this revelation known as “the Vision.”

77. Mar. 1832 During the translation of the book of Revelation, the brethren had many questions about the writings of John.

78. Mar. 1832 The Prophet Joseph instructed priesthood leaders concerning the law of consecration and establishing a storehouse for the poor.

79, 80. Mar. 1832 Jared Carter had come to Hiram, Ohio, to inquire of the Lord’s will through the Prophet. He was called to serve a mission to the eastern countries. By contrast, Stephen Burnett and Eden Smith were called to serve a mission wherever they chose.

81. Mar. 1832 This section was given in preparation for the formal organization of the First Presidency. Originally it was addressed to Jesse Gause, who, due to apostasy, was replaced by Frederick G. Williams.

82. Apr. 26, 1832 The Prophet Joseph had been commanded in section 78 to go to Zion and teach the leaders the law of consecration. He traveled to Zion and at a meeting was sustained as President of the High Priesthood, just as he had been in Ohio.

83. Apr. 30, 1832 During the brief visit to Zion, the Prophet taught concerning widows and children under the law of consecration.

84. Sept. 22–23, 1832 Elders were returning and reporting on their missions in the eastern states (see D&C 75).

85. Nov. 27, 1832 This section is an extract from a letter the Prophet wrote to William W. Phelps, who had been appointed to assist Bishop Edward Partridge in administering the law of consecration.

86. Dec. 6, 1832 During the translating and editing of the translation of the Bible, this revelation was given to the Prophet Joseph as an explanation of the parable of the wheat and the tares.

87. Dec. 25, 1832 The Prophet Joseph received this prophecy on war at a time when troubles among the nations and within the United States itself were on the minds of the Saints.

88. Dec. 27–28, 1832 At a meeting of high priests, the Prophet Joseph gave instructions on how to receive revelation. Each of the brethren present in turn prayed to the Lord that they all might be of one heart and mind and receive His will. This revelation, known as “the Olive Leaf,” followed. Verses 127–141 were received on January 3, 1833.

89. Feb. 27, 1833 Widespread use of tobacco by the brethren attending the School of the Prophets and the filthy conditions that resulted led the Prophet to inquire of the Lord. This revelation is known as “the Word of Wisdom.”

90. Mar. 8, 1833 This revelation was given as an answer to the prayers of the Prophet and the brethren and was a continuing step in establishing the First Presidency.

91. Mar. 9, 1833 The Bible that the Prophet used for the inspired translation contained the Apocrypha—writings not included in the current King James Version of the Bible. Upon the Prophet’s inquiry the Lord revealed that it was not necessary to translate them.

92. Mar. 15, 1833 Frederick G. Williams had been called as a member of the First Presidency. The Lord directed that Brother Williams should be part of the united firm.

93. May 6, 1833 The Prophet was working on the translation of the Old Testament.

94. May 6, 1833 In a meeting a committee was appointed for raising funds to build a printing house and a place for the School of the Prophets to meet. Shortly after, this revelation was given.

95. June 1, 1833 Hyrum Smith, Jared Carter, and Reynolds Cahoon were the committee that had been appointed to gather funds for the Church’s building projects. They issued a circular encouraging the Saints to fulfill the divine command given six months before to build the house of the Lord. Section 95 was given the same day the circular was issued.

96. June 4, 1833 In a meeting of high priests, the brethren were not able to decide who should be in charge of the lands that had been acquired by the Church. They determined to ask the Lord what to do. The Lord revealed that Bishop Newel K. Whitney should divide the land among the Saints.

97. Aug. 2, 1833 This revelation was an answer to letters from Oliver Cowdery and other brethren in Zion concerning a school for the elders.

98. Aug. 6, 1833 The Saints in Missouri had been experiencing severe persecutions. This revelation was given in answer to their prayers.

99. Aug. 1832 A revelation given for John Murdock.

100. Oct. 12, 1833 While on a mission, the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon were worried about their families.

101. Dec. 16, 1833 The Prophet received news of the expulsion of the Saints from Jackson County, Missouri, and inquired of the Lord what to do.

102. Feb. 17, 1834 This section is the minutes of the organization of the first high council. The Prophet set forth the ancient pattern for Church councils that had been revealed to him in vision.

103. Feb. 24, 1834 The Saints in Missouri sent Parley P. Pratt and Lyman Wight to find out by what means the Saints’ inheritance in Zion would be restored to them. This revelation authorized the Prophet to organize Zion’s Camp.

104. Apr. 23, 1834 In order to stabilize the financial situation of the Church, the united firm was divided into individual stewardships.

105. June 22, 1834 Shortly before the arrival of Zion’s Camp in Clay County, Missouri, the governor rescinded the aid he had promised. Hence, the goal to restore the Saints to their inheritance was frustrated.

106. Nov. 25, 1834 This revelation concerning Warren A. Cowdery was given while the Prophet Joseph was preparing for a school of the elders.

107. Mar. 28, 1835 In preparation for their mission to the eastern states, the Twelve Apostles requested a written revelation from the Lord to guide their labors.

108. Dec. 26, 1835 Under the influence of the Spirit, Lyman R. Sherman, one of the seven Presidents of the Seventy, came to the Prophet to express his feelings and to receive a revelation teaching him his duty.

109. Mar. 27, 1836 This dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland Temple was given to the Prophet Joseph by revelation.

110. Apr. 3, 1836 In a meeting held one week after the Kirtland Temple was dedicated, the Prophet Joseph and Oliver Cowdery, separated from the congregation by a veil, offered silent prayer at the pulpit. When they finished, this glorious vision was given to them.

111. Aug. 6, 1836 Having heard of available monies in Salem, Massachusetts, the Prophet Joseph, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, and Oliver Cowdery went there hoping to alleviate the heavy debt hanging over the Church.

112. July 23, 1837 This section was given through the Prophet Joseph Smith to help Thomas B. Marsh, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, guide the Quorum of the Twelve.

113. Mar. 1838 Soon after the arrival of the Prophet in Far West, Missouri, Elias Higbee and other Church members inquired about particular passages of scripture from the book of Isaiah.

114. Apr. 17, 1838 David W. Patten was counseled to prepare for his mission with other members of the Twelve.

115. Apr. 26, 1838 This revelation given at Far West made known the will of God concerning the building up of that place, the construction of a temple there, and the full name of the Church.

116. May 19, 1838 This section is an extract from the journal of the Prophet Joseph regarding his visit to Adam-ondi-Ahman.

117. July 8, 1838 William Marks and Newel K. Whitney had not left Kirtland. Oliver Granger was dispatched with this revelation to instruct them what to do.

118. July 8, 1838 This revelation was given through the Prophet Joseph at Far West, Missouri, in response to the supplication, “Show us thy will, O Lord, concerning the Twelve” (see History of the Church, 3:46).

119. July 8, 1838 The financial troubles of the Church, its leaders, and the failure of the Saints to keep the law of consecration led to this revelation and the extension of the law of tithing to all members of the Church.

120. July 8, 1838 The brethren wished to know how to dispense the properties given through tithing.

121, 122, 123. Mar. 1839 The persecutions against and the sufferings of the Saints led the Prophet Joseph Smith to plead with the Lord in their behalf while he was in Liberty Jail.

124. Jan. 19, 1841 Once the Saints were gathered to Nauvoo, the Prophet Joseph sought guidance from the Lord and received direction, among other matters, to build a temple.

125. Mar. 1841 After plans for a temple in Nauvoo were declared, the question arose whether the Saints across the Mississippi River should move to Nauvoo.

126. July 9, 1841 Brigham Young had served abroad. This revelation relieved him of future travel abroad.

127, 128. Sept. 1, 6, 1842 Performance of ordinances for the dead without any organization or record keeping led to the instructions relative to baptisms for the dead in these two letters from the Prophet.

129. Feb. 9, 1843 Satan’s continued efforts to deceive the Saints necessitated instructions on how to perceive if a being was from God or the devil.

130. Apr. 2, 1843 The Prophet Joseph corrected statements presented in a talk by Orson Hyde. Verses 18–23 are statements from a sermon by the Prophet.

131. May 16–17, 1843 The Prophet gave a variety of doctrinal statements while visiting some Saints. He proclaimed verses 1–4 while giving instruction on the priesthood.

132. July 12, 1843 This section came at the request of Hyrum Smith for a written revelation to convince Emma Smith of the truthfulness of the principles of eternal marriage.

133. Nov. 3, 1831 When the Book of Commandments was being planned, the Lord gave this revelation as an appendix to it.

134. Aug. 17, 1835 This section is a declaration on earthly laws, prepared to be included in the first publication of the Doctrine and Covenants in order that others would not misinterpret the Church’s position.

135. June 27, 1844 John Taylor wrote the circumstances surrounding the Prophet Joseph Smith’s Martyrdom.

136. Jan. 14, 1847 President Brigham Young needed to know how to organize the Saints for the trek westward. (This entry appears on chart 3.)

137. Jan. 21, 1836 At a meeting of Church leaders in the nearly completed Kirtland Temple, the initiatory ordinances of the endowment were administered. The participants received visions and revelations, including this one to the Prophet Joseph Smith.